Chase suspects arrested in Rochester charged with shoplifting

Monday

Jun 18, 2018 at 4:32 PMSep 23, 2018 at 7:06 PM

WAREHAM – Three people who led police on a car chase and then a multi-agency foot-search in Rochester Friday, June 15, after allegedly shoplifting two TVs from the Wareham Walmart were all charged with shoplifting over $250.

Wareham Police received a call reporting two men in the Aldi’s parking lot at 2149 Cranberry Highway removing televisions from boxes that had just been stolen from the nearby Walmart on Friday, June 15, at about 10:25 a.m.

Within seconds of the dispatch, police said, Lt. John Gerard arrived and observed the men standing next to a brown Toyota, removing a large television from its box and placing it into the vehicle. As Lt. Gerard approached the men, they franticly entered the vehicle and attempted to retrieve something under the front seat prompting Lt. Gerard to draw his firearm, and demand to see the suspect’s hands, police said. The car then sped away, with Lt. Gerard in pursuit.

The car proceeded onto Interstate195 west bound into Mattapoisett where it exited at North Street toward Rochester. Detective Dean Decas was also following the vehicle. However, both officers lost sight of the car and discontinued the pursuit. Shortly thereafter, Rochester Police located the car abandoned on Pine Street. A witness advised police that a woman and two men fled from the car in different directions. Rochester and multiple police agencies were now in the area and a search for the suspects began, police said.

Within 30 minutes the first suspect, Erikka Williams, 25, of East Falmouth was placed into custody. After about three hours the two other suspects, Paul G. Leite Jr., 25, of Fall River and Joseph Debenedictis, 27, of Dorchester were located and placed under arrest.

The two televisions stolen were valued at more than $1,000 combined.

Joseph Debenedictis was charged with shoplifting over $250, failure to stop for police, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, passing on right and speeding.

Paul Leite was charged with shoplifting over $250.

Erikka Williams was charged with shoplifting over $250.

The suspects were transported to Wareham Police Headquarters, where they were processed pending arraignment in Wareham District Court.

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